GoPro video interview: Karma drone unveiled

GoPro has taken the wraps off the company’s first ever drone at the Photokina 2016 imaging show in Köln, Germany. The stylish looking unit is called the Karma and GoPro’s Isabel Pakowski has spoken to The Video Mode to explain the capabilities and versatility of the new piece of kit.

Unusually, the quadcopter features a camera that is extended directly out of the front of the unit on a gimbal – unlike the underslung design of most UAVs. GoPro says that this will allow you to get even closer to the action than other drones, as well as keeping its rotors well out of the way when shooting so you: “basically never see the propellers in the shot.” The Karma will fold away neatly for portability and is said to have a safe control range of one kilometre.

GoPro’s Isabel Pakowski says the Karma is: “More than a drone because there’s a whole system of things you can do with it. We wanted this drone to really be small so that it can fit it in your backpack so it doesn’t become like a ‘big act’ to take the drone out [and use it]. With Karma it becomes ‘why shouldn’t I [take it out]? You can fold up the arms super easily and then just out it in your backpack and it becomes a very compact little thing.”

Handily, the gimbal will be detachable, letting you attach it to a grip or mount so that you can get an instant steadicam when you’re out and about shooting. The GoPro Karma and its nifty gimbal will be compatible with the GoPro 4 camera range and upwards (including, of course, its brand new Hero 5 range) and the Session. It’s priced at €1,199 including a Hero 5 Black camera and €869 without the camera.

Check out our video interview from Photokina 2016 above to find out more and see some of the first sample footage of the the GoPro Karma in action.